Can-polishing machine.



o. HEDIGER.

CAN POLISHING MACHINE. `APPLICATION FILED APR.21,1909L Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

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C. HEDIGER. CAN POLISHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR.21,1909.

Patented Dec. 14,` 1909.

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ulumllmmmlmmmm o. HBDIGER. CAN POLISHING MACHINE.

l APPLICATION FILED APR. 21,1909. iL. 943,247. Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

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CARL HEDIGER, OF (.rItllENVILLIE, ILLINOIS.

' CAN-POLISHING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14,1909.

Application fi1ed-Aipri1 21, 1909. Serial No. 491,242.

To all whom it may concern:

-Be it known that I, CARL HEDIGER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Greenville, in the county of'Bond and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements viii-Can-Polishing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to a machine having rotary brushes for polishing the ends of A sheet metal cans, and it has for its object Cir the production of a machine of this description vhaving a runway through which the cans ,travehnieans for conducting the cans through the runway, andI offset bushing means for polishing the-ends of the cans during their travel through the runway.

Figure I is a top or plan view of my can polishing machine.A Fig. II is a side elevation of the machine. Fi". III is an enlarged top or plan view of the runway and offset polishing brushes. Fig. IV is aside elevation of the .parts shown in Fig. III. Fig. V is an enlarged face view of one of the polishing brush heads and illustrative of the manner in which brush sections are mounted in the heads. Fig. VI is a Vcross section through one of the. polishing brush heads and brush sections therein. Fig. VII' is an enlarged cross section through the can runway. Fig. VIII .-is an enlarged' fragmentary elevation of. the can runway and the endless carrier operable therein, one of the side members of' the runway being omitted. Fig. .IX is an enlarged top or plan view of the means for adjusting the brush head shafts that carryV the brush heads. Fig. X is a top or plan view of a modification of the'runway and the arrangement of the offset brushes. Fig. XI is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. X,

In the accompanying drawings 1 designates corner posts-of the frame of my machine and 2 are transverse tie-bars that unite said corner posts at the ends of. the frame.

3 are center posts of greater height than the corner posts and which are united by a transverse tie-bar 5 are inclined longitudinal braces that extend from the upper ends of the center posts to the upper ends of the corner posts.

6 and 6 are a pair of central bearing box supporting bars extending parallel to each 'Other longitudinally of the frame of the I machine and supported at' their ends by the transverse tie-bars 2 to which they are connected. The bearing box supporting bar G has mounted thereon,between the center and the' receiving end A of the machine, bearing boxes 7 and 8, while the bearing box supporting bar 6 has mounted thereon'7 A between the center of the machine and the discharge end B, bearing boxes 9 and 10.

11 is an outer bearing box supporting bar, parallel with the bearing box supporting bar 6 and supported by. one of the corner posts 1 at the receiving end of the machine and by the center post 3, in line th rewith, this bar 11 having mounted upon 1t caring boxes 12 and 13.'

14 is an outer bearing box supporting bar located atthe opposite side ofthe machine from that at which theouter bearing box supporting bar 11 is located. this outer bar I 14 being parallel with the central bearing box supporting' bar 6 and interposed between a corner post 1 at the delivery end of the machine and the center post 3 in -line therewith. The outer bar 11 has mounted thereon bearing boxes 15 and 1G.

1T -and 18 designate brush head shafts. the

former of which are journaled lin alined bearino' boxes T- and 12 noon the central bearing box supporting bar G and the outer bearing box supporting bar 11, while the latter are journaled in alined bearing boxes 9 and 15 upon the central bearingbox supporting bar 6 and the outer bearing box supporting bar 11. All of the brush head shafts 17 and 1S extend transversely of the machine and their inner ends project toward the center of the machine between the rentral bearing box supporting bars b v which the shafts are in part supported. The brush head shafts 17 have fixed to them sprocket wheels 1T and the brush head shafts 1S have fixed to them sprocket wheels 1S.

19 and 20 are drive chains that are operable respectively upon the sprocket wheels of the brush head shafts 1T and 1S and whichare driven in the manner to be hereinafter explained.

21 and 22 are idler wheel shafts joui-nailed respectively in the journal boxes 8, and 13, and 10 and 16, these idler wheel shafts being provided with idler sprocket wheels i1 and 22 overl which the drive chains 19 and Q0. operate, respectively.

Qydesignates a main drive shaft journaled in suitablebearing boxes supported by the center posts 3 at their upperends, this main drive shaft having iixedto it sprocket wheels 24 and 25 by whichlthe drive chains 19 and 20 are respectively driven durino the rotation of the main drive shaft. The rive chains extend downwardly from the sprocket Wheels 24 and 25 and beneath all of their respective sprocket wheelsy upon the brush head shafts, as seen in Fig. II, thereby pro? viding for all of the brush head shafts being rotated in one general direction. The idler sprocket wheels 21 and 22 are arranged in the path of-'travel of the drive chains 'to elevate and prevent sagging of these drive chains, in order that they may be retained in proper engagement with the sprocket wheels upon the brush head shafts.

26 designates offset? brush heads of disk shape fixed to the brush head shafts- 17 and 18 at their inner ends, the brush heads carried by the brush head shafts 17 being located between the receiving end and center of the machine and facing toward vthe-barl 6 in one direction, while the brush'heads carried bythe brush head vshafts 18 face toward the bar 6 in the opposite direction and are located between the center of the machine and its discharge fend. These brush heads are of peculiar construction and havev brush sections mounted therein, as will hereinafter appear.

31 designates an endless carrier provided with flights 32, one for each can the carrier preferably being constructed of a chain to the links of which the flights' 32 are attached so that they are located at intervals upon the chain. to provide can receiving pockets. The endless carrier extends longitudinally of the-machine at a point intermediate of the bearing box supporting bars.

6 and 6 and operates at one' end of the machine upon a rsprocket wheel 33, (see Fig.

-wheel 40 on the last mentioned shaft, and

an endless chain 41 that leads to a sprocket wheel 42 upon the endless carrier driving sprocket wheel shaft 35. The driving mechanism `tor the carrier 31 acts to so operate said carrier as to cause the upper course of the carrier to travel in a direction leading n1 the. receiving end to the discharge en'd o4 y .e man. me, while the endless chains 19 and 2O that operate the brush head shafts and which are also driven from the main tary brushes to. travel in a direction the reverse of the travel of the carrier 31. Extending through the center of my machine between the upper' part ofthe working faces of the rotary brushes isfan elevated runway throu h which the cans to be polishedare con ucted by the endless carrier 31 and which willl next -be described.

43 designates a transversely arranged elevated traveling table or rack at the receiving end of the machine upon which the cans to be polished are placed in vertical position or end up so as to be deposited in the runway.

44 is a longitudinally arranged inclined chute located across the discharge end of thecan receiving table or rack 43 and leading from said table or rack-to the endless carrier 31; the cans being tippedfrom a vertical position to 4a horizontal position as they pass into the chute and the chute being open at its bottom adjacent to the endless carrier 31 in order that the Aflights of the endless carrier may operate in line therewith flush with thebottom thereof where the cans roll on to the flights and enter into v.positions between these iights as they de-v scend in the chute.

45 designates an elevated track extending longitudinally ofthe machine and in aline-- ment with the `can delivering chute 44, and having at its rear end an -upwardly extending curved part or dip connecting with the l bottom parts of the chute, and 46 are rails mounted upon the track 45 and spaced apart from each other to a suflicient degree to per- 'mit thel operation of the endless carrier 31 between them while riding upon the track 45 during the upper course ofi its travel. The rails 45 also serve as supports for the cans, as illustrated in Figs. VII and VIII.

47 are yokes secured to the track 45 at intervals throughout its length. Each of these a yokes has a lower arm that is attached'to the track, an upright arm, and a top arm, to the latter of whichy is attached a top guard plate 48 located at a s uiiicient distance above the rails 46 to permit the travel of the cans between these members. The yokes 47 that are located throughout the portion of the machine occupied by the brush heads 26 carried by the brush headi shafts/ 17 are open at the sides of the can l. runway" facing said brush heads, while throughout the remaining portion of the machine, or that occupied by the brush heads carried by the brush' head shafts 18, the yokes are open at the opposite side of the can runway. ,f

49 are stationary side walls of the can runway, and each of which is located at the side of the runway farthest removed from the upper part of the working faces of each Aset of brush heads. drive shaft'23 are rotated so as toV cause the 'upper part of the working faces of the ro- ,50 designates guard plates located at the Y the polishing brushes.

are located, and which serve to 'prevent horizontal movement of the cans in a directioi'i away from the side walls 49 during the travel vof the cans through the can runway when they are not being operated upon by These guard plates are separated from each othera't the loca- A tions of the brush heads' in order that the brushes carried by said headsmay operate upon the ends of the cans. It sometimes happens that it is necessary togain access to the can runway for the purpose of removing or adjusting cans therein and, to permit of access being gained to the can runway, I connect the guard plates` to the upper arms of the yokes 47 byhinges 51 in order that said plates may be raised and lowered; and

brushes have become to hold the guard plates in their proper vertical positions, I provide latches 52, (see Figs. IV and lower arms-of the yokes 47. y

f Each brush head utilized in my machine is, as previously stated, equipped with a plurality of brush sections. The construction of these brush heads and the brush sections is most clearly illustrated in Figs. V and VI. Each brusluhead is provided at' its brush section receiving side with an inner annular flange 2T and an outer flange 28, concentric with the inner flange and in which is a gap The flanges 27 and 28 are undercut to provide a dovctail channel between` these flanges into which the backs ofthe brush sections .5B of segmental shape arel introduced.V -The brush head shown in Fig. V is only partially filled with'b'rush sections. The position of other brush sections to be used in the brush head is shown in dotted lines, and the complete brush head is illustrated in position ready to be introduced through the gap in the outer flange 28 to complete the'brush. As each brushsection is introduced through the igap in the outer flange, it is shifted in thechannel between the two flanges of the bruslrheadto carry it to a point remote from the gap, this process being continued until the channel has been filled except for the last brush section which is slipped throughthe gap into the position it is to occupy. To close the gap 29, I employ a detachable gate strip 30 that is adapted to be introduced into the gap after the last brush section has been put in .place and which, upon being fastened to the brush head in anysuitable manner, serves to complete -the outer annular flange 28 and con-` fine the brush sections in the channel provided therefor.

To provide for the brush hea.ds26 of my machine being adjusted relative tothe can runway to the proper degree before the fna-A chine 1s placed in operation and after Ithe worn to any appreciable degree in order that the brushesl will operate in proper contact with the ends of VII), that are attached to the being operated upon the cans conducted through the can runway,: I employ means for longitudinal adjust ment of the brush head carrying shafts 17 and 1S. This shaft adjusting means is shown in Figs. If and IX, appearing most clearly 'in the latter view. j

54 are yokes attached tothe outer bars 11 and 14, and extending outwardly therefrom. 55 are adjusting screws extending through these yokes and having threadeda engagement therewith.` The adjusting screws rest at their inner ends against the outer ends of the brush head carrying shafts 17 and 1S, and they are provided at their outer-ends with hand wheels 56. Upon the 'adjusting screws being rotated in the yokes 51 to cause the'brush heads carried -thereby toward the can runway to the proper degree in order that there -will be proper-operation of the polishing brushes upon the ends of the cans that' are conducted through the can the carrier of the machine. It is important that the inward movement of the brush head carrying shafts and the brush heads be restricted to prevent the brush heads .being adjusted into contact with the ends of the `cans when the brushes have been completely worn away in service, in order'that the cans may not be injured'by engagement of the brush heads, or thebacks of the brushes from which the bristles have .been worn away and I therefore supply the brush head runway by carrying shafts with stop collars 57 which" engage the bearing boxes 7 and 9 when the advisable limit of inward adjustment of the brush head carrying shafts and brush heads has been effected.

In Figs. X and XI I have illustrated a modification in which the brush heads 26 are, instead of being located in different sections of the machine, located in staggered relation and atopposite sides of the can run- Way so that the ends of cans may be polished by the brush of one brush head, and the other ends of the same cans may be immediately thereafter polished by the next succeeding brush at the opposite side of the can runway, this action being continued throughout the extent of the brushes, as distingu1shed from\ each can being polished first at one end and then being conducted to another section of the machine at which its other end is polished. In this modification the side walls 49 are dispensed with and hinged guard plates 50 are supplied at both sides of the can runway to prevent escape of the cans from the runway while they are not by the polishing' brushes.

I claim;v Y y 1/ The combination, in a can. polishing machine, of an endless carrier having flights for conducting the cans to be polished, a rotary brush opposing said endless carrier and operable upon the ends of .the cans, a runway yin which said endless carrier, is operable, a track Within the runway having rails between which the endless carrier travels v and on which the iights thereof and the cans are supported, and a movable guardat the side of the runway at which the brush is located.

2. The combination, in a can polishing machine, of an' endless carrier having-flights forconducting' thel cans to be polished, a. ro: tary brush opposing said endless carrier and operable upon the ends of the cans, a runwayl in which said endless carrier is operable, a track within the runway having rails tween which the endless carrier travels and on which the -cans are supported, and a guard hinged to said runway at the side atl which the b rush is located, and a latch for holding said guard in position to partly confine the 'cans in the runway.

L A can polishing machine comprising a frame, a pair of centrally arranged'supporting bars extending longitudinally of` the frame and spaced apart, a runway Vlocated -.between the supporting-bars and havingat its rear end an upwardly extending curved pai-t or `dip and a track provided 'with rails for supporting the cans and conforming to the curved part or dip of the runway, a, transversely arranged traveling table, carry'ing the cans in vertical position, an inclined vchute arranged transversely of the table in line .with the runway and receivingv l the cans in transverse position and having an open bottom, and an endless carrier having ights receiving the cans in line with ,the bottom of the chute.

5. A can polishing machine comprising av frame, a pair of centrally arranged supporting bars extending longitudinally of the frame andspaced apart, a runway located between the supporting bars and having at its rear end an upwardly extending curved part or dip and a track provided with rails vfor supporting the cans and conforming to the curved part or dip\ of the runway, a transversely arranged travelin table, carryingtlie cans in vertical position, an' inlift clin'ed" chute arranged transversely l*fetifthel i table in line with the runway and "rec'eivii'ig' the cans in transverse position andlhfaving an open bottom, an endless carrier `having flights `and receiving the cans in lineiwith the bottom ofthe chute and'so mounted'that its working part Atravels forwardly onthey track between the rails, oppositely arranged rotary polishing brushes havin oslet shafts mounted on the supporting ars and the Working part of their faces operatingv to-A l' ward the receiving end ofthe endless car# rier, means forI driving 4the latter vand means vfor rotating the polishing brushes.

CARL HEDIQGER. In the'presence'of* v Pon'riiiz' Nar, WM. IGr.I KAEsnR. 

